Peace Corps

Burkina Faso - a Peace Corps Publication for New Volunteers

Publisher Marketing: History of the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso The Peace Corps entered Burkina Faso, then called Upper Volta, in 1966. Programs included small enterprise development, education, agriculture, and environment. In 1987, Peace Corps ceased operations in Burkina Faso due to the government's development policies no longer aligning with Peace Corps goals. After a change in government administration and policies, the Peace Corps was invited back to Burkina Faso in 1995 to begin a health program. Programs in education and small enterprise development were established in 1996 and 2003, respectively. Currently, nearly 150 Volunteers work throughout the country. Approximately 2,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Burkina Faso to date. History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Burkina Faso Peace Corps/Burkina Faso works within three program areas: health, education, and community economic development. These projects were recently revised, taking into account the country's needs and the comparative advantage of using Volunteers. Health Volunteers' primary responsibilities are to work in close collaboration with local health clinic staff to raise awareness on topics such as maternal and child health, malaria, hygiene, nutrition, family planning, and HIV/AIDS for people living in their communities. Education Volunteers use participatory student-centered approaches to teach math, science, information, and communication technologies, and life skills....